The carriage rolled on.
And on.
And on.
"Elowen Evercrest," Pippin's voice droned in her mind, "as previously stated, the Five Great Houses were established following—"
"Elowen is bored," she muttered, resting her cheek against the window.
[…Correction: Host is interrupting important historical data.]
"I regret asking," she said flatly.
A pause.
[…Noted.]
Elowen sighed dramatically, her breath fogging up the glass slightly as she stared outside. Trees passed by in a blur, the road stretching endlessly ahead.
"…It's so long…"
[Travel time remaining: unknown.]
"That's not helpful either."
Silence.
Then—
Elowen's eyes shifted.
"Oh!"
She perked up slightly, pressing her hands against the window.
Riding alongside the carriage was a familiar figure—the same guard who had carried her earlier.
The scary one.
"…He's still here…"
She hesitated for a moment.
Then quickly knocked against the window.
"Hey!"
The guard didn't react.
Elowen frowned.
"…Hey!"
She knocked harder.
Finally—
he glanced over.
His expression didn't change much, but his attention was clearly on her now.
Elowen waved both hands enthusiastically.
"Come here!"
The guard blinked.
Then, after a brief hesitation, he guided his horse closer to the carriage window.
"Yes, young miss?" he asked, his deep voice carrying easily over the sound of movement.
Elowen beamed.
"You listened!"
"…Yes."
He didn't seem sure how else to respond.
Elowen leaned closer to the window.
"…Do you have candy?"
The guard froze.
"…Candy?"
"Yes!" she nodded eagerly. "Sweet ones. Or sour ones. Or anything."
"…No."
Her face fell instantly.
"…Oh."
A pause.
"…I can request some upon arrival."
Her eyes lit up again.
"Really?!"
"Yes."
Elowen smiled brightly.
"You're nice."
The guard stiffened slightly.
"…Thank you."
She studied him for a second.
"…You don't look nice."
"…I have been told that."
Elowen giggled.
Then her expression shifted slightly, curiosity creeping in.
"…Hey," she said, lowering her voice a little. "What's it like there?"
"At the estate?"
She nodded.
"…It is large," he replied. "Structured. Formal."
Elowen blinked.
"…That sounds boring."
"…It can be."
She pouted slightly.
"…Do people play there?"
A pause.
"…Not often."
"…Oh…"
Her shoulders slumped a little.
The guard seemed to hesitate.
"…However," he added, "there are gardens. And training grounds."
Elowen perked up slightly.
"…Gardens?"
"Yes."
"…Okay… that's better."
She paused again, then leaned in closer.
"…What about my siblings?"
The guard's posture straightened slightly.
"They are the young masters of House Evercrest."
"…Are they scary?"
"…Some."
Elowen made a small face.
"…Which ones?"
"The eldest, Lord Cassian, is… strict."
"…Strict is scary."
"…Yes."
"The second, Lord Elias, is calm."
"…Calm is okay."
"The third, Lord Kael…" the guard paused slightly.
"…Yes?"
"…He is difficult to describe."
"…That means trouble," Elowen muttered.
"…That is a fair assumption."
She giggled again.
"…And the youngest?"
"Lord Noel is kind."
Elowen visibly relaxed.
"…Good…"
Then—
she hesitated.
"…What about… her?"
The guard's expression shifted slightly.
"…You mean Lady Lavinia."
Elowen nodded slowly.
"…Is she… nice?"
A pause.
Longer this time.
"…She is well loved especially by the staff and church ," he said carefully.
Elowen noticed.
"…That's not what I asked."
The guard glanced at her, then away.
"…She is kind," he said after a moment.
"…But?"
He didn't respond immediately.
"…You will understand when you meet her."
Elowen frowned slightly.
"I don't like answers like that…"
"…I apologize."
She leaned back slightly, hugging her knees again.
"…It's okay…"
For a moment, she just looked at him.
Then—
"…Will they like me?" she asked softly.
The question was quiet.
Small.
The guard didn't answer right away.
"…You are their blood," he said finally.
Elowen lowered her gaze.
"…That doesn't mean they'll like me…"
Silence followed.
Then—
"…I think," the guard said slowly, "that they will try."
Elowen looked up at him.
"…Try…?"
"Yes."
She thought about that.
Then gave a small nod.
"…Okay."
It wasn't perfect.
But it was something.
The carriage continued forward, the road stretching ahead into the unknown.
Elowen rested her head against the window again, her fingers lightly gripping the edge of her dress.
"…Hey," she called softly.
"Yes, young miss?"
"…Don't forget the candy."
"…I will not."
A small smile appeared on her face.
And this time—
the road didn't feel quite as long.